Introduction

While many U.S. equities are highly valued, German real estate stocks are currently very attractively valued. A good investor broadens his horizons and looks for opportunities outside the United States.

Why German (or European) stocks? Due to the interest rate hikes by the Fed, the dollar has risen sharply against the euro. Now, the ECB is raising interest rates evenly, so I expect the Euro/Dollar to remain stable or the value of the Euro to rise slightly. The rising euro is beneficial for U.S. investors who manage their money in dollars and buy European stocks. They then enjoy an additional currency return.

I have chosen 3 German real estate stocks that offer an attractive dividend. Real estate stocks are all down about 50% since the third quarter and thus offer a stable dividend of more than 5%.

The German real estate stocks I prefer are:

1. Grand City Properties (OTCPK:GRNNF, OTCPK:GRDDY) (7.1% Yield)
2. LEG Immobilien (OTCPK:LEGIF, OTC:LGMMY) (5.2% Yield)
3. Vonovia (OTCPK:VNNVF, OTCPK:VONOY) (6.2% Yield)

These real estate companies all focus on the rental, management, and maintenance of homes, mainly in Germany. The shares are available on the German stock exchange and have sufficient liquidity. Alternatively, the OTC stock can be bought, but be aware of low liquidity.

1. Grand City Properties (7.1% Yield)

My 1^st pick is Grand City Properties. The company rents, manages and maintains residential real estate mainly in Germany but also in the United Kingdom (London). The real estate allocation is divided between the areas as follows: the capital Berlin (24%), North Rhine-Westphalia (20%), London (19%), Dresden/Leipzig/Halle (13%) and other metropolises in Germany.

What I find important about real estate companies are leverage ratios and debt maturities. Grand City Properties’ Loan-to-Value ratio is very low at 35% and below their 45% target. The maturities of the debts and the size of the debts give a good idea of the growth potential of the company. The average debt maturity of Grand City Properties is 6 years, with 97% of the debt hedged at a fixed interest rate.

Adjusted EBITDA was €299 million for the year 2021. Adjusted EBITDA shows recurring operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and excluding capital gains, revaluations and other non-operating income. If we compare their debt repayment schedule with adjusted EBITDA, we see that the company has to refinance its debt maturing in the years 2026, 2027 and 2028. There are ample opportunities to refinance the debt so that the repayment takes place after 2029. Interest rates are currently higher, which will affect the company’s profits. The dividend should be safe for years to come and new investors will enjoy their fat 7.1% dividend yield.

2. LEG Immobilien (5.2% Yield)

LEG Immobilien rents out, manages and maintains residential real estate and offers its tenants value-added services such as Wohnservice, EnergieService, TechnikService and LWS Plus. The company mainly rents out in Wilhelmshaven/Aurich/Norden/Bremen (48%) and other metropolises in Germany.

Here too we look at the leverage ratio and debt. The Loan-to-Value ratio is slightly higher than Grand City Properties at 42%, but still below management’s target of 45%. The average maturity of the debts is 7 years and significant maturities will only occur from 2024. 94% of their debts are debts with fixed interest rates.

Adjusted EBITDA for 2021 was €512 million. The debt repayment schedule shows that LEG Immobilien must refinance its debts for the coming years at a higher interest rate. Another option is to repay debt with proceeds from divestments. The investment portfolio is €19 billion, so there is quite a bit of room for deleveraging. A small caveat to the valuation of the investment portfolio is that house prices can fall if interest rates rise sharply. For now, I think their investment portfolio offers a strong margin of safety. I consider the dividend stable, investors can enjoy their return of 5.25%.

3. Vonovia (6.2% Yield)

My 3th pick is Vonovia. Vonovia rents out, manages and maintains residential properties and offers value-added services for residential properties in Germany, but also in Austria and Sweden. The portfolio breakdown of the real estate is as follows: Berlin (9%), Rhine-Main area (6%), South Rhine area (6%), Rhineland (5%), Dresden (5%), Hamburg (4%), etc. The good diversification ensures stability in the property portfolio.

The Loan-to-Value ratio is 43%, below management’s target of 45%. The average maturity of the debt is 7 years and 96% of the debt is hedged with a fixed interest rate.

Vonovia’s total adjusted EBITDA after the consolidation of Deutsche Wohnen for the year 2021 is €2.269 million. After 2023, the debts can no longer be covered, which means that Vonovia will have to refinance its debts. This is possible at an interest rate of 2.5% for secured debts and 3.5% for unsecured debts for 8 years. Another option is to pay off debt with proceeds from divestments, or a combination of both. The fair value of real estate is €93 billion, which means there is plenty of room to pay off their debts. The first debt maturity will be in 2023 and Vonovia will sell some portions of its non-core assets to meet the obligations. As a result, I expect a stable dividend and new investors can enjoy their solid 6.2% dividend yield.

Reasons Why The Stocks Have Dropped

There are a few reasons why these stocks have fallen, including:

• Investors are concerned that real estate companies will face difficulties in refinancing their debt. German 10-year yields rose sharply from the third quarter of 2021, making refinancing more expensive.

Own interpretation: Refinancing is indeed more expensive, if the rental yield is lower than the interest yield on debt, it is not economically justified to let through. Capital must be redistributed and properties with a low rental yield must be sold.

• Investors fear that residents will no longer be able to pay their energy bills due to the sharp rise in energy costs.

Own interpretation: This is not a landlord-tenant problem. People who live in their own homes are also affected by increased energy costs. This is a social issue and the German government provides relief by offering them subsidies, increasing housing allowance and other measures.

The three stocks are down 50%, but there is no need to panic. Yes, there can be a small drop in profits when their debts are paid with asset disposal. But it doesn’t seem logical that just for this reason stocks have fallen by half. Stocks fall so sharply when a recession is imminent. In most cases (for solid companies) this should be a perfect buying opportunity as we have seen in the years 2000, 2008 and 2020. So, enjoy the fat dividends!

Conclusion

Investing in Europe is beneficial when the value of the euro rises against the dollar. The ECB is gradually raising interest rates, making it interesting to take a closer look at European equities. There are 3 German real estate stocks that are attractive because of their high dividends combined with their solid dividend security.

Option #1 concerns Grand City Properties, the stock has been heavily penalized and as a result is trading at a strong 7.1% dividend yield, while their debt maturities and cash flows look good for years to come. Option #2 concerns LEG Immobilien, this stock is also heavily penalized and offers a solid 5.2% dividend yield. My pick #3 is Vonovia, the dividend yield of this stock is a solid 6.2%.

I see Grand City Properties as a very safe investment as it can easily meet their debt payment schedule. Both LEG and Vonovia will have to sell investment properties and shift their maturities. This can put pressure on the dividend, but the dividend is well covered by their large quality real estate portfolio. All stocks trade very cheaply and equity gains can still be made when the maturity of their debts seems more favorable causing the stock to rise. The shares are worth buying. Enjoy the fat dividends!

• The buy first, sell later property lending models includes the use of bridging loans
• A bridge loan is a short-term loan that can be used by a borrower until permanent finance is secured
• Bridging loan specialist has received over $1 billion in loan applications since launching last year

With many buyers still priced out of the market, homeowners are now looking to different finance solutions that are not offered by the traditional lenders.

Despite the slowdown this year, property prices have risen by 11.2% nationally over the past 12 months, with a higher rate across the capital cities.

Many older Australians have capitalised on this growth and cashed in on the boom. Many of these downsizers are commonly Baby Boomers, who are taking advantage of alternative financing options.

One such option is the ‘buy first, sell later property lending model – which involves using bridging loans.

Often, homeowners miss out on their ideal home thanks to the traditional slow approval process or not having enough funds for a deposit. This is when bridging loan came into play.

A bridge loan is a short-term loan until an individual (or company) secures permanent financing, or pays an existing obligation.

One such provider is Bridgit, a tech-driven bridging local specialist. In the less than 12 months since its launch, Bridgit has hit $1 billion in loan applications.

The average loan size is $1 million, with the majority of the customers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Mortgage broker Nick Jacobs and capital markets specialist Aaron Bassin established Bridgit in mid-2021 upon witnessing a gap in the market that provides fast property finance solutions while avoiding a monthly and lengthy process.

Along with the billion-dollar milestone, Bridgit has been on a growth trajectory since launch, having raised $13.2 million equity, and secured $100 million in venture debt funding.

“We’re extremely thrilled to have hit $1 billion in loan applications, a milestone that gives us confidence our product is helping Australians make the most of property opportunities,” said Mr Bassin.

“Our mission has always been to challenge the traditional lending model and provide Australians with a new solution that actually helps them progress.

“Our customers have loved the flexibility of being able to use a fast bridging loan solution – providing them with an option to buy first and offering many benefits, particularly for retirees or downsizers who want to buy on their terms without having to sell first.”